There is no place like home for Dashing

New South Wales horseman Bruce Harpley has his sights set on a homecoming to remember for Victorian-bred harness racing gelding Dashing (Art Major) at Shepparton on Tuesday.

The three-year-old will make his Victorian race-day debut, and given he is still eligible for a first-win Vicbred bonus, it’s a potentially lucrative reason for the 57-year-old to head south.

The gelding by Art Major spent some time under Jack Callaghan’s care before making the move to the Harpley stable.

The Junee trainer was eager to add the winner of over $68,000 to his team.

“I had his mother, Frith, who won a Victorian and Western Australian Oaks and I had a good run with her,” Harpley said. “They (the owners) asked me who they should send (the horse) to, and I thought I would make room for him.”

In-form reinsman Jordan Leedham is set to steer the pacer in Tuesday night’s Greg and Denise Muir Pace.

“The race suited him and Jordan has been on fire recently,” he said.

“He has won three races, so this wasn’t a bad race for him first-up. He trialled good last week, and I just thought I would get his Vicbred bonus
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“He has been good to work and he reminds me a bit of his mother. He has shown well above average ability, but he has been a little bit inconsistent.”

Harpley, 57, hasn’t ruled out the idea of a potential Vicbred Super Series assignment later in the month.

“I will try and get this run out of the way and it will certainly be something we can look at,” he said.

Dashing will make his Victorian debut in the Greg and Denise Muir Pace which is set to go at 7.30pm on Tuesday night at Shepparton.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria